Rainmaker | Steel Toe Brewing

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this is a rockstar red ale, as good as they get, but im not totally sure why they are calling it a double. its no stronger than a common red ipa or american amber, maybe just because its twice as good?! i thought this was a fantastic beer, turning a style that i am usually unenthused by into something really quite impressive. its very flavorful and bready on the grain base, some caramelized grain sugars, brown sugar notes, that toasted red malt element, but its also nice and hoppy, soft orange peel twang and pine resin, mostly in the finish. its got a ton of body, and even with all the grain richness in the flavor, it never gets the least bit sweet, more of a hearty granola thing than a sugary one. the hops have only balancing bitterness but a ton of flavor as well, it ends up rounded and enormously flavorful, but quite drinkable too with good carbonation and less leftovers than most of its peers. steel toe has one of the best reputations in the twin cities, and its beers like this that make that seem spot on for me. probably the best straight up red ale i have had in 2016!

This beer pours very deep ruddy brown with medium sized, we sustained head. The aroma that hits me first is a fairly fresh pine tone, with background notes of cinnamon candy, peppermint, and something slighty yeasty. The flavor leads with the mild cinnamon candy flavor, accented by the piney, minty hops. There is also some orangey citrus present. I find it difficult to pick out individual flavors is this beer, it does seem very well integrated. The mouthfeel is neither thick nor thin, but balanced. Overall this is a solid beer, but not terribly exciting. In fact, I find no better word to describe this than balanced.

A: Rich mahogany...sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously a rich reddish brown with some chill haze. Creamy off-white head that sticks around for days.
S: Lovely caramel apple in the malt, subdued hops.
T: Some dark malt and brown sugar right off the bat with some sticky hops. The middle dies quickly to a more watery set of malt flavors.
M: Surprisingly watery and thin but smooth and easy to drink.
O: Very nice red IPA; gorgeous beer with great flavors although a little on the thin side. Both this and Size 7 were great beers. Thanks Jesse!

Pours a dark red with a two finger off white head.
Aroma is of caramel and citrus. Some floral hop notes too.
Flavor is similar to the nose. Caramel sweetness balances out the grapefruit peel and hop bitterness. Well made and enjoyable